Jacket conversions...some thoughts.

[Jock Scot]

I have no idea if Lord Lovat's jacket is a conversion, it does look as though it might be to me. It would be pretty much standard procedure to dress thus, for a kilted gentleman in the Highlands when gardening and for general informal and no doubt comfortable, casual attire. After all, one hardly needs to show off and dress to the nines, when one is doing one's own lawn at one's castle!

[Spartan Tartan]

I don't use the pockets on my jacket to carry anything. Maybe inside pockets, but not the ones up for discussion here. For me, the astetic is the concern. His do not look bad to me, but I certainly would not move them simply to make the functional.

[Nathan]

I think Lovat's jacket looks like a conversion due to both the low pockets and the hem. There are lots of reasons why he might have opted to convert the jacket even if he had others that were not converted. For example, imagine he got moth hole or stain in the lower part of the jacket that would be gone if he chose to convert it. Just my view on the matter.

[creagdhubh]

I think Lovat's jacket looks like a conversion due to both the low pockets and the hem. There are lots of reasons why he might have opted to convert the jacket even if he had others that were not converted. For example, imagine he got moth hole or stain in the lower part of the jacket that would be gone if he chose to convert it. Just my view on the matter.

I agree. More than likely MacShimidh's jacket is indeed a conversion (which of course, doesn't matter to me in the slightest), it sure appears as such, and I have always maintained that conclusion after first seeing this photo many years ago.

[BCAC]

Just because he was a Lord and had a castle doesn't necessarily mean that he was rolling in money, either. He may have needed to be thrifty. I see that he was mowing his own lawns (couldn't afford to pay a gardener?). Those castles did seem to drain a lot of money for their upkeep.

[MacLowlife]

The US press is full of stories about Highclere castle and the money paid by the Downton Abbey crowd- and the need to apply that money to roofs and drains. I am fairly certain most Americans would never be able to set foot inside a castle were it not for death duties and the high cost of maintenance. Would you allow strangers to traipse through your living room if you didn't have to?

On another note, I was looking at the eBay stalking thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...47#post1220947 and OC Richard has posted a nice pic of a Stewart Christie jacket that seems to have always been a kilt jacket. Its pocket flaps are pretty low, too.

[TheOfficialBren]

It does, indeed, look like Lord Lovat's jacket has been converted. There is something about the bottom seam near the pocket. Either way, Look at that snazzy tweed! HM has a really neat getup, too. Isn't that called a "Prince of Wales" check? I had trousers in that pattern moons ago.

I'd wear a converted jacket or a specifically designed jacket without batting an eye. Simple needs.
---
I get the impression that the fictional Glenbogle House isn't so unrealistic. Maybe that's why some chiefs no longer live in their castles.

[creagdhubh]

Just because he was a Lord and had a castle doesn't necessarily mean that he was rolling in money, either. He may have needed to be thrifty. I see that he was mowing his own lawns (couldn't afford to pay a gardener?). Those castles did seem to drain a lot of money for their upkeep.

Indeed, and especially in his case. Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat (pictured above) experienced a great deal of turmoil in his final years; he suffered financial ruin and two of his sons predeceased him in accidents within months of each other. A year before his death, in 1994, the family's traditional residence, Beaufort Castle, was sold.

[TheOfficialBren]

Indeed, and especially in his case. Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat (pictured above) experienced a great deal of turmoil in his final years; he suffered financial ruin and two of his sons predeceased him in accidents within months of each other. A year before his death, in 1994, the family's traditional residence, Beaufort Castle, was sold.

How dreadful! Both sons within a month?
Then losing the family castle?!

I hope that they have found themselves in a better way since then.

Bless them.

[Highlander31]

Indeed, and especially in his case. Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat (pictured above) experienced a great deal of turmoil in his final years; he suffered financial ruin and two of his sons predeceased him in accidents within months of each other. A year before his death, in 1994, the family's traditional residence, Beaufort Castle, was sold.

He was a leader and a decorated member of the British Commandos in WW2.

Below is Wikipedia's brief description of his service;

As a temporary major, Lord Lovat commanded 100 men of No. 4 Commando and a 50-man detachment from the Canadian Carleton and York Regiment in a raid on the French coastal village of Hardelot in April. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross on 7 July 1942. Lord Lovat became an acting lieutenant-colonel in 1942 and was appointed the commanding officer of No. 4 Commando, leading them in a successful component of the abortive Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) on 19 August. His commando attacked and destroyed a battery of six 150 mm guns. Lovat was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Lord Lovat eventually became a brigadier and became the commander of the newly formed 1st Special Service Brigade in 1944. Lord Lovat's brigade was landed at Sword Beach during the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. Lord Lovat reputedly waded ashore donning a white jumper under his battledress, with "Lovat" inscribed into the collar, while armed with a .45-70 Winchester underlever rifle (disputed fact, not verified. In some earlier pictures y/1942 he is seen with a Winchester M70 cal 30-06 bolt-action sporting rifle). Lord Lovat instructed his personal piper, Bill Millin, to pipe the commandos ashore, in defiance of specific orders not to allow such an action in battle. When Private Millin demurred, citing the regulations, he recalled later, Lord Lovat replied: “Ah, but that’s the English War Office. You and I are both Scottish, and that doesn’t apply.”

Lovat's forces swiftly pressed on, Lovat himself advancing with parts of his brigade from Sword Beach to Pegasus Bridge, which had been defiantly defended by men of the 2nd Bn the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry (6th Airborne Division) who had landed in the early hours by glider. Lord Lovat's commandos arrived at a little past one p.m. at Pegasus Bridge though the rendezvous time as per the plan was noon. It is a common misconception that they reached almost exactly on time, late by only two and a half minutes. Upon reaching the rendezvous, Lord Lovat apologised to Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, of 7th Parachute Battalion. He went on to establish defensive positions around Ranville, east of the River Orne. The bridges were relieved later in the day by elements of the British 3rd Infantry Division.

During the Battle of Breville on 12 June, Lord Lovat was seriously wounded whilst observing an artillery bombardment by the 51st Highland Division. A stray shell fell short of its target and landed amongst the officers, killing Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. Johnston, commanding officer of the 12th Parachute Battalion, also seriously wounding Brigadier Hugh Kindersley of the 6th Airlanding Brigade.